Cycling the Border Belt Cao Bang

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

After arriving at the homestay you’ll have the opportunity to warm up your cycling legs with a ride around the local area. This short “there-and-back” ride takes us along wide dirt roads to a paper-making village, where you’ll be able to have a go at making your own paper using a process that locals have been using for generations. After putting your skills to the test we’ll take a leisurely ride back to Phia Thap homestay village.

ROUTE MAP

Note: Water and fruit stations will be provided on the trail.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

It’s time to really stretch those legs with the Phia Thap Epic Loop. This 40km ride along dirt and sealed roads (with a small section of singletrack) will take in a local basket-weaving village where you will not only see baskets being made, but also have a go at making one yourself. We then continue along the southern half of the loop and stop at a fresh spring where you can cool off with a quick swim after lunch.
After everyone has refuelled we’ll head north along a sealed road towards Quang Uyen where you can purchase drinks at any of the local shops. Taking a steep but short climb out of town takes us onto the northern half of the loop, through amazing countryside and back to the homestay for a well-earned rest.

ROUTE MAP

Note: Water and fruit stations will be provided on the trail. Lunch stop along the way.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

It’s the biggest day of the tour distance-wise. We start with a 40min bus ride to the town of Trung Khanh, leaving behind most of the busy highway that goes to the Chinese border. After topping up the water bottles we head north, through amazing river scenery and passing rice paddies and water wheels and (on a clear day) spot the Chinese border in the distance.
Crossing the picturesque Quay Son river we then turn south-east along sealed roads and village trails, before turning east and making our way to the Lung Niec homestay that’s located only a stone’s throw from the famous Ban Gioc waterfall.

ROUTE MAP

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Make sure your camera batteries are charged, because Day 4 is the money shot. Turning right onto the main road it’s a short downhill ride down to the amazing Ban Gioc waterfall, where we will spend a few hours participating in a community development activity that will assist the locals in maintaining the area. Here riders can grab a coffee at the Sai Gon Ban Gioc Resort located right next to the waterfall entrance, or wander through the souvenir markets at the base of the falls. After a group photo (and plenty of your own, no doubt) it’s all aboard the express bus back to Hanoi.

ROUTE MAP